Sports wagering being legalized might not cause the same level of passion as say, abortion, or if immigrants are stealing and eating pets in Ohio, but whether sports betting should be legalized is still a hot issue in the Show Me state.
Amendment 2 will be on the ballot in Missouri on November 5, and polling shows growing support for legalized betting. Subtlety is not a strong suit for groups on either side of the debate.
Winning Missouri Education is the group leading the charge for sports betting to be expanded, while the campaign working to defeat the initiative is led by Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment.
Currently, it is legal in Missouri to gamble in one of the state’s 13 licensed riverboat casinos, which are regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
The Missouri Lottery has been around for 39 years, proceeds from which support public education in the state.
It’s also permissible to take part in charitable games, including licensed bingo, pull-tabs and merchandise coin boards at licensed religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran and service organizations.
Most relevant to the sports betting debate is that Daily Fantasy Sports was legalized in Missouri in 2016, operated by entities that include DraftKings and FanDuel.
A yes vote on Amendment 2 would align Missouri with 38 other states and the District of Columbia, which all permit some form of sports betting. Online apps, casinos and boats could allow Missourians to bet on professional or college sports, but all bets would have to be placed in the state, whether in a casino or on a phone app.
The amendment includes a ban on advertising to minors, background checks for applicants for a sports betting license, and information on problem gambling on websites and apps.
Only individuals 21 years of age or older would be able to participate in sports wagering. (By contrast, you only have to be 18 to buy a gun. Should it be harder to pick a parlay than to pack a pistol?)
Estimates by the state predict sports betting could put $29 million a year annually into Missouri’s coffers, $5 million of which would go towards a fund to prevent gambling addictions. The remainder is earmarked for public schools and higher education.
For and against
Winning Missouri Education spokesman Jack Cardetti has said “Missouri is one of only about a dozen states that hasn't legalized sports betting. And that means we lose out on millions of dollars that could be going to our classrooms, and millions of dollars of economic opportunity. So, if this ballot initiative passes, Missourians will be able to place sports bets in a responsible, regulated manner.”
On the other side of the debate, State Senator Denny Hoskins says he’s not against having a vote on sports betting, but he doesn’t like the language in Amendment 2.
“Number one, the tax rate is very low. The fees are very low. There’s not enough money in there for problem compulsive gambling, which is going to be caused by legalization of sports betting here in the state. … The casinos, I’ve seen, would net an increase of $25 million apiece. Let me say that again, if sports betting passes in the state of Missouri, casinos will net another $25 million in net profit going to their bottom line. So, I want to make sure that Missourians are protected."
Proponents of Amendment 2 include, naturally, sports betting companies, as well as every major pro sports team in Missouri.
It is not true that the Kansas City Chiefs are looking into posting an over/under on Taylor Swift appearances.
If the vote passes, sports betting will start by December 1, 2025, if not before.